Chrysanthemum plant named True Luv

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant named True Luv having flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; deep lavender ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 105 to 115 mm. at maturity; uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; short plant height when grown as a pinched disbud pot mum, and semi-spreading branching pattern.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named True Luv.

True Luv is a product of a planned sport induction program which had the objective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars that would expand the color range on existing cultivars while retaining their other original traits.

True Luv was discovered and selected by William E. Duffett in May 1980 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. as one flowering plant, a color variant within a flowering block established as rooted cuttings from stock plants which had been exposed as unrooted cuttings to an X-ray source of 1800 rads. The irradiated variety was Luv, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,960 and originated by the present inventor.

The first act of asexual reproduction of True Luv was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in July 1980 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by a technician working under formulations established and supervised by William E. Duffett. Horticultural examination of selected units initiated November 1981 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for True Luv are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

True Luv has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. The observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif. and Leamington, Canada under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of True Luv which in combination distinguish this chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Flat capitulum form;

(2) Decorative capitulum type;

(3) Deep lavender ray floret color;

(4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 105 to 115 mm. at maturity;

(5) Uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days;

(6) Short plant height, requiring 2-3 long day weeks prior to pinch and short days, and 0-1 application of 2500 ppm B-9 after the beginning of short days of attain a flowered plant height of 20 to 30 cm., and

(7) Semi-spreading branching pattern.

The accompanying photographic drawings depict typical foliage and inflorescence characteristics of True Luv. Sheet 1 is a color photograph of True Luv grown as a pinched, disbud pot mum, with colors being as accurate as possible with renditions of this type. Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of the inflorescence of True Luv. Sheet 3 shows the leaves of True Luv in three stages of development (mature, intermediate and immature).

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to True Luv is Royal Trophy, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,549. Reference is made to attached Chart A which compares certain characteristics of True Luv to those same characteristics of Royal Trophy.

True Luv and Royal Trophy are similar in many respects. True Luv differs from Royal Trophy in that it has a more rapid flowering response (8 weeks vs. 9 weeks), a more spreading, branching pattern, and a shorter plant height.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined between 2:30 P.M. and 3:00 P.M. on Aug. 13, 1982 under 150 foot-candle light intensity at Salinas, Calif.

CLASSIFICATION

Botanical: Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv True Luv.

Commercial: Decorative disbud pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--105 To 115 mm.

Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Deep lavender.

Color (abaxial).--74B, 74C.

Color (adaxial).--77D.

Shape.--Oblong. Rounded tip. Sometimes notched.

Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--196D.

Color (immature).--144D.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only; very few; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

General appearance:

Height.--Short; 20 to 30 cm. given 2 long day weeks before pinch and lights out, and 0-1 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP after lights out.

Branching pattern.--Semi-spreading.

Foliage:

Color (abaxial).--147A.

Color (adaxial).--147B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed. Moderately serrated.

                  CHART A                                                          ______________________________________                                         COMPARISON OF TRUE LUV AND ROYAL TROPHY                                        ______________________________________                                                 RAY         CAPITULUM                                                  CULTI-  FLORET      FORM AND     BRANCHING                                     VAR     COLOR       TYPE         PATTERN                                       ______________________________________                                         TRUE    DEEP        FLAT         SEMI-                                         LUV     LAVENDER    DECORATIVE   SPREADING                                     ROYAL   DEEP        FLAT         SEMI-                                         TROPHY  LAVENDER    DECORATIVE   SPREADING                                     U.S. Plant                                                                     Pat. No. 3,549                                                                 ______________________________________                                                 DIAMETER                 FLOWERING                                     CULTI-  ACROSS FACE OF PLANT     RESPONSE                                      VAR     CAPITULUM      HEIGHT    PERIOD                                        ______________________________________                                         TRUE    105 to 115 mm. SHORT     8 WEEKS                                       LUV                    20 to                                                                          30 cm.                                                  ROYAL   100 to 115 mm. SHORT     9 WEEKS                                       TROPHY                 25 to                                                   U.S. Plant             35 cm.                                                  Pat. No. 3,549                                                                 ______________________________________                                         COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS PINCHED                                    DISBUD POT MUMS IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                         AND LEAMINGTON, CANADA                                                         ______________________________________                                     

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named True Luv, as described and illustrated, and particularly charcterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; deep lavender ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 105 to 115 mm. at maturity; uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response; short plant height and semi-spreading branching pattern. 